CONCORD, N.C.
–
Logging nearly 400 miles across four hours of running stock cars in oppressive heat at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Danica Patrick endured a vigorous warmup Saturday for the Coca-Cola 600.
Tyler Barrick, Getty ImagesDanica Patrick has confirmed that she plans on racing in the Indy 500 next year. In 2005, Patrick became just the fourth woman to compete in the race.
Tyler Barrick, Getty Images
Danica
Patrick has confirmed that she plans on racing in the Indy 500 next
year. In 2005, Patrick became just the fourth woman to compete in the
race.Sponsored Links
It also might have been a dress rehearsal for an Indianapolis 500-Coke 600 doubleheader in 2013.
After
finishing 14th in the History 300, Patrick confirmed an ESPNW.com
report that her management team is formulating a plan to run both Memorial Day weekend classics next year in what's expected to be her rookie season in the Sprint Cup Series.
PHOTOS: Danica Patrick in photos
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"Oh, that's not a mystery that if I did the Indy 500,
that's what it would be," said Patrick, who has expressed a desire to
return to Indy many times. "As long as everything works out, and we're
able to transition to Cup, that would be awesome. It would have been
some sort of double if I'd done it this (year). That's just the way it
would go down, and that would be a hell of a lot of work, but I'm sure
it would be pretty fun."
The first woman to
lead the Indy 500 hasn't finalized her schedule for next year and said
the planning was in the preliminary stages. But she said moving up to NASCAR's premier series wouldn't be a dealbreaker.
"I
think that Indy is special to me," said Patrick, who moved to NASCAR
full time this year after seven consecutive seasons in the Izod IndyCar
Series. "The greater the distance between the last time I drove an Indy
car and the next time, I wouldn't like that to be too big.
"If
I were to attempt it, I wouldn't want to do anything that would tarnish
all my great memories and the successes that I've had there by going
out in an attempt that wouldn't be comfortable for me. So yeah, that
would be awesome."
Saturday's race at Charlotte wasn't so special for Patrick, who called it "very average" despite qualifying third.
After moving to second on the first lap, the JR Motorsports driver dropped outside the top 10 in the first 50 laps while battling a tight handling condition in her No. 7 Chevrolet.
She
fell outside the top 30 at one point but was running ninth with 50 laps
remaining before her Impala faded as it did on long green-flag cycles.
"Unfortunately
we just couldn't maintain a top 10 at the end," she said. "It just got
tight and just had to be very disciplined to make the most of it."
The former high school cheerleader from Roscoe, Ill., played pick-me-up after the team's first pit stop.
Crew
chief Tony Eury Jr. chastised his team, which prompted Patrick to
radio, "Let's not get all riled up. Let's keep our heads down. I'll
drive like hell" and also remind the team it was a long race.
"I
just thought we need to stay positive," she said. "I just wanted
everyone to get back on track. We were just too early in the race to get
negative."
Eury said he was upset with the crew and not Patrick, though he did say her pit entry could have been executed better.
"I
know she's trying her hardest. We've got a good chance, we're starting
up front and then we had a bad pit stop," Eury said. "So I got
frustrated with the guys. We'd kind of addressed that a couple times
already this year, just looking to have solid pit stops. I'm not looking
for the fastest, I'm just looking for something solid and consistent
every week. Was just letting the guys know I was kind of frustrated with
it.
"Overall, that first (stop), she crawled in there a little bit, but she was better the rest of the day."
The race still took its toll on Patrick, who turned 66 laps in two Sprint Cup
practice over nearly two hours. After spending 2 hours, 25 minutes in
the Nationwide car, Patrick climbed out of the cockpit and made a
beeline for the pit wall. She draped a cool, wet towel around her neck
and leaned back while closing her eyes for a few minutes before starting
interviews.
Patrick said she wasn't worried about completing 600 miles Sunday in her first start in NASCAR's longest race.
"It's
just the middle of the day, and that is really, really hot," she said.
"I feel like we could work on the cooling systems in my car. In fact,
earlier today, (Eury) came over to the Cup car, and I thought he was
going to talk to (Cup crew chief Greg Zipadelli) about certain things
that I like in the car. He said, 'No, ma'am. I'm just looking at your
cooling systems.'
"If we improve that a
little, that'll help. I can't even fit my hand out the window, so it
just gets hot. It was a really hot day. Stick two Cup practices on top
of (the race), where I'm sure as hell not loose hands (on the wheel). I
am on top of the wheel with a death grip because I'm just learning. I'm
sure it's a little more exhausting for me being so tense than someone
who might be a little more comfortable."
Patrick said Saturday's conditions left her as spent as after the Nationwide race at Daytona International Speedway
on a sweltering day last July. After completing a live radio interview
while standing up, she moved back to the pit wall to take more
questions.
"I can talk but can't stand up and
talk," she said with a smile. "It makes me a little dizzy. I think we
chased the hydration side of this pretty good. It's just the nature of
the beast on a hot summer's day on this beautiful Memorial Day weekend.
So I hoped the fans liked it. It's a good reason to drink beer."
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